November 20, 2017

It’s been a long day of hiking at Arbor Hills and as the sun begins to set, you realize it’s time to start heading back to the car and go home. Your friend is already pretty far ahead, and you don’t want to get left too far behind, so you start to rush down the hill to catch up. One moment you’ve got your hands on your backpack straps and wind in your hair and the next you’re face down in a pile of mud and your mouth is throbbing.

In the car, you’ve got a wrapped ice pack on your red face when it hits you. You need to go back to the dentist to prevent any more damage to your teeth. You ponder how long you can prolong the visit to those white sterile walls and waiting room. The anxiety makes you want to throw up and you pray your friend doesn’t bring up the visit to you. Luckily, there is an option, even for those with an extreme fear of dentists with sedation in Plano.

Anxiety at the Dentist? You Are Not Alone

Millions of people avoid going to the dentist every year due to their anxiety. Dentists have become more aware of this over the years and determined that approximately 40 million Americans prolonged visiting their dentist because of anxiety. Out of these millions, it’s safe to assume that most of them genuinely care about retaining their oral hygiene, but don’t want to experience the stress that comes with it. That’s where sedation comes in.

Maintaining Oral Health Via Sedation

Also referred to as sleep dentistry, sedation methods have become well developed as more dentists help patients regulate their anxiety. The level of anxiety varies largely by patient and understanding this level first is essential in knowing which technique work bests. For a lighter anxiety there’s oral conscious sedation, which is designed to relax patients during their treatment. These methods include nitrous oxide (which is administered through a mask that fits over the nose), or medication (which is usually taken the day of treatment.)

IV Sedation: A Stronger Answer For Anxiety

Typically used for oral surgeries or more time-consuming dental procedures, IV sedation is ideal for those with extreme anxiety or phobias of the dentist office. This is also ideal for those who have a sensitive gag reflex or a neuromuscular disorder that makes it difficult to keep their mouth open for longs period of time. Through IV sedation, sedatives are administered intravenously, allowing the dentist to easily adjust the dosage at any time. This method puts the patient in a near-conscious state, allowing dentists to complete any necessary procedure.

About the Author

After graduating from Texas A&M University with a BS in biology, Dr. Christopher Pollard obtained his DDS from Baylor College of Dentistry four years later. He went on to open a practice with Dr. Bhavita Patel DMD joining him in 2006. She previously practiced in Florida before moving to work with Dr. Pollard. If you intend to pursue sedation for your next visit, either dentist will schedule a consultation with you to determine out your anxiety level, medical history, and current health conditions. To learn if sedation dentistry is right for you, contact Dr. Pollard or Dr. Patel at (972) 423-0880 or visit their website here.

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